Finding decent accommodations in a new town is always a challenge. At the UT there are a variety of housing options for international students. In addition, several services strive to make the process of finding housing as painless as possible.
As the only campus university in the Netherlands, the University is proud of its setting and encourages incoming students to find on-campus housing. It cites the advantages of living with like-minded students instead of locals who may not fully appreciate the rituals and tempo of student life, as well as the proximity to two city centers easily available by bike or frequent buses. Off-campus, the towns of Enschede and Hengelo offer a wide range of rooms, flats and entire houses for rent. Both town centers are a 15-minute bikeride from campus. Fewer students live in Hengelo, as the center of Enschede caters more to student interests.
At the moment 73 rooms are available on the Student Union kamersite. Roomservice is the contact point for students seeking housing. Marijke Goïnga and Machteld Prins are the contacts for the student service, readily dispensing advice. `For students coming from abroad, it is nice the University has a Roomservice department which will arrange housing for them in an appropriate way. We don't know how many foreign visitors look at our website for information, but we think most of them use it. Most international students prefer a room on campus because it is close to their faculties and they have a fast wireless internet connection.'
As an international student, one has the same options as Dutch students, but in practice housing preferences differ, explains Suzanne van der Kolk, UT Internationalization Officer: `On-campus housing is part of normal campus housing (owned by independent company Acasa), but they do keep specific housing furnished for international students. Dutch student housing is unfurnished (no curtains,carpet etc.).'
Acasa has more than 2000 rooms to accommodate a variety of living situation interests: from social dorm room settings where many students share a kitchen and living space to single private rooms or flats. It offers fully furnished housing for temporary foreign guests on the UT campus, as well as general student housing for undergraduates and professionals from the UT and Saxion Hogeschool Enschede. Acasa boasts of its campus-wide internet connection. The company facilitates apartment exchanges and short-term sublets; it also manages an online bulletin board (mostly in Dutch) that matches departing students with newcomers.
Paul Kirwan, an AIO at NIKOS, has lived in several on-campus apartments including a shared student residence on Calslaan and the blue building of Mondriaan. After dealing with Acasa several times, Kirwan is skeptical about their monopoly on campus real estate. The shared student housing was less than comfortable, `It depends on the situation of course, but sharing a kitchen with 15 other students can be a bit dodgy.' In his opinion, one must weigh the pros and cons when thinking about living on campus. Kirwan said it was particularly difficult finding an affordable apartment for one person. `If you're staying for a limited period, then it may be suitable, but my advice is if you can find a group of students, rent a house together in the city; its cheaper than campus if you can find a decent place.' The apartments at Mondriaan were a step up in price and quality, says Kirwan. Though not exclusively catering to internationals, these apartments are designed for older students with families as well as young singles. He agrees there are advantages to being on campus, `You have automatic contacts there, with your faculty or other students.' Now living in a shared apartment in Enschede, Kirwan is still keeping his eyes open for a good deal.
